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This is a collaborative post.
The fall season is all about sweater weather and autumnal flavors that make us feel that much closer to the festive season. Bursts of pumpkin, apple, coffee, and warm spices are enough to make anyone want to snuggle under a warm blanket with a good book and a tasty treat.
While coffee lovers don’t need an excuse to break out their prised capsule coffee machine, whipping up delicious, coffee-inspired desserts to enjoy as the weather starts to cool and the days become shorter will bring the magic of fall to life.
Coffee Liqueur Milkshakes in Gingerbread Cookie Cups
If you are looking for a fun and unique dessert for your next adult-only dinner party that incorporates the many distinguished flavors of fall, gingerbread cookie cups filled with creamy and boozy coffee liqueur milkshakes will be ideal.
Prepare your go-to gingerbread cookie recipe and bake your cups in a prepared cupcake tray until they are firm and fully cooked. While they cool, blend together vanilla ice cream, coffee liqueur, and a dash of vanilla essence until smooth and well combined. Divide the mixture among your cooled cups topped with whipped cream, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and chocolate shavings, if desired.
Espresso Shortbread
There is never a time of year when a traditional shortbread biscuit is not the perfect addition to an after-dinner cup of coffee. But take this classic recipe to new heights by transforming them into espresso shortbread cookies, partially dipped in melted white chocolate to be enjoyed throughout fall.
While your baking will largely follow a traditional shortbread recipe, you will also add one tablespoon of instant espresso to one tablespoon of boiling hot water until the granules have dissolved. Set aside to cool while you mix the additional dough ingredients. Add the coffee mixture and work the dough until smooth, allowing it to rest for at least an hour. For an added sparkle, dip half the cookie in melted white chocolate.
Caramelized Banana Tiramisu
If you have ripe bananas on hand and can’t face yet another banana bread, this decadent twist on traditional tiramisu will quickly become a family favorite. Espresso-soaked finger biscuits are layered with buttery smooth custard and sweet caramelized bananas to create a decadent and delicious dessert.
While store-bought custard is perfectly acceptable, homemade is best. It may take some trial and error to perfect homemade custard, especially if you have never made it before, but the difference it makes to the final dish makes it well worth the effort.
Pumpkin Spice Affogato
Not all decadent desserts need to be complicated, just as not all fall desserts need to be served warm. Affogato is an iconic Italian coffee-based dessert that feels like a comforting hug at the end of a meal. This autumnal twist includes an indulgent slosh of spicy and sweet pumpkin spice syrup.
To make this flavourful syrup, whisk together granulated sugar, water, 100% pumpkin puree, cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, vanilla extract, and ground cloves until smooth and well combined. Once cool, add it to a serving bowl or glass with two scoops of vanilla ice cream and a shot of fresh espresso. Serve immediately.
Cappuccino Dessert Cups
If you are looking for a delicious and satisfying dessert that can be prepped up to two days before your event, chilled cups of creamy coffee-flavored dessert topped with a generous spray of your favorite whipped cream will be a recipe that ticks all your boxes.
Mix cornstarch and milk until smooth. Then, combine instant coffee, sugar, and a dash of salt in a large saucepan, whisking over medium heat until the coffee and sugar have dissolved and the mixture is smooth. Stir the cornstarch mixture again to combine the ingredients, and while whisking constantly, add it back to the coffee mixture. Cook the mixture for an additional 10 minutes until glossy and thick before adding a splash of vanilla and dividing it into your dessert dishes.
Chocolate Mocha Cupcakes
You may be surprised to know that many of your favorite decant chocolate desserts contain coffee. This is largely because coffee’s flavor profile perfectly combines with chocolate, bringing out its rich and intense flavor.
Chocolate mocha cupcakes feature coffee in the batter and are topped with fluffy, lightly whipped coffee mocha icing. This allows coffee to stand alongside chocolate as a star ingredient rather than a supporting act. Be sure to let the cupcakes completely cool before adding the icing to prevent it from melting and losing shape.
Mini Pumpkin Spice Latte Donuts
There are very few flavors more synonymous with fall than pumpkin spice. While it can be a somewhat divisive taste, mini pumpkin spice latte donuts are the perfect combination of coffee, pumpkin pie spice, and a sweet sugar glaze.
To make your donut mixture, mix together flour, baking powder, granulated sugar, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk pumpkin puree, eggs, vegetable oil, and milk. Combine the two mixtures and beat until just combined. Pour the mixture into a donut tray and bake until light brown and springy when touched.
For the coffee and vanilla glaze, dissolve instant coffee into warm milk before mixing in vanilla and powdered sugar until smooth and thickened. Once the donuts have cooled, dip each into the glaze and leave to set before serving.
I also have a Dalgona coffee recipe on the blog, if you just want a special coffee.